Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-28
and appalling war; The reason given for


do not arm in haste and to extraordinary
extent except in anticipation of con-
flict, and among monarchies the fear of
war tends to invite and eventually precipi-
tates it. General Wolseley places the
opening of war in the near future, and the
contingency upon which it depends, the
will of Prince Bismarck-that is, he be-
lieves the German Premier alone knows"
whether it will come this summer or later.
He must therefore, base his statement
upon faith in Bismarck's power to avert or
precipitate the war. 1t is possible that
the General takes too dark view Of the
situation, for it is by no means certain that
the Germin Premier desires a European
war. Indeed, the indications now point
to desire on the part of his Government
to avoid it, and interpret its military pre-
parations as rather precautionary than
offensive Certainly the French people
look upon Bismarcks triumph in the re-
cent elections as tending to avert conflict,
and the dispatches assure us that the news
of the political victory evoked in Paris
and vicinity the most open and warm ex-
pressions of qualification and non-belief in
the liability of war. That election was a
matter of European rs well as local con-
Germ. That Bismarck was without con-
cealment intimidating voters, and coercing
them to his will, made very little differ
ence to European observers. De-
spite the coercive methods employed,
the vote, it is agreed, did express
the desire of the German people for peace.
The triumph of the opposition was very
we'll understood to mean hostilities, for
the Prince would have plunged Germany
in war at once rather than yield his
point-the increase of the army and its
general improvement for seven years to
come. Nevertheless, as nothing involving
armed conflict is impossible in Europe, the
forecast of General Wolseley may not be
too gloomy. Bismarck is old and fretful,
and more self-willed than ever He may
supplement his political triumph with
such policy as to involve Europe in war.
Austria is dependent upon him for her
action; Russia will think twice before
moving without consultation with him
Italy has no will of her own in the mat
ter, except to join in the assault if di-
rected against France. So, we say, General
Wolseley may be right in expecting war
in Europe very early. But it should be
remembered that history gives examples
in plenty of war ayerted by military prep
aration. 1t is never a temptation to ma
ton to assail another that has shotted its
guns and stands with its hand upon the
sword. Forearming causes an opponent to
pause before he measures strength with
the one he would assail. AS we have said,
the decision in favor of the septennate pro-
voked the feeling in France that peace
was assured. This was, of course, based
upon the belief that the Government
would not assault in the face of prepara-
ton by its enemy.
SAN DIEGO has resolved to bond the city
credit for 100000 in order to secure the
construction of proper sewers and drains
Colonel George E. Waring, Jr., the emf
nent sanitary engineer, who won fame in
planning an improved sewer system for
Paris, is to be employed to devise a sys-
tenn for our most southern city. While
the saddling of new debt upon munich
pality is always matter serious concern,
and is to be entered upon only after the
most careful consideration, the resolution
to establish 4 proper system of drainage
now, when it may be most easily done, is
commendable. If San Diego should neg
lect the matter for seven or eight years
longer, the cost of a necessary system would
be very much larger than now, and the
work of construction doubly difficult. 1t
is gratifying to find one California city
about to adopt the best sanitary system,
and refusing to put up with primitive
methods and make-shifts. She will be
gamer by the operation she will enhance
real estate value, make the city more de-
sirable as place of residence, and, what is
better than all else, will insure exemption
for her people from the ills that attach to
nearly all other California towns and cit
les as direct result of defective methods
for the carriage and disposal of sewerage.